Zoo-de-Mack Boyne Highlands to Mackinaw City Bike Tour

What could be more fun than traveling 51 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline by bike with 2,500 of your closest friends? Making that ride—which leaves from Boyne Highlands near Harbor Springs and ends in Mackinaw City—knowing there is going to be a serious post-biking bash upon arrival, that’s what!

The annual Zoo-de-Mack bike tour weekend, happening for the 21st year on May 21-23, is filled with chances to party all over the place. Friday’s events kick off in Elmira, where bikers have the opportunity to set a potato-burger eating record (seriously) at the Railside Bar—a restaurant that engineered said burger just for Zoo-de-Mack riders to carbo-load like crazy. Head on up to Boyne Highlands to register for the ride and then either a) get a good night’s sleep, or b) get silly in the Zoo bar, which is rented out for riders to get their groove on to the Aaron Vaughn band until the wee hours of morning. Just remember: 51 miles and a whole lot of hills stand between that party and the next one.

Bright and early (or not) Saturday, May 22, bike enthusiasts can head out for a leisurely ride along forests, farm fields and 400-foot bluffs, pit stopping at Leg’s Inn for a perfect Polish lunch and phenomenal views of Lake Michigan. Keep going knowing that after you eat the road is flat and the chances to hop in the water are plentiful. This year, Zoo-de-Mackers have the added bonus of a party waiting in Mackinaw City at the Crossings, complete with food, a band, and yes, more beer.

For those wishing to hop a ferry and keep the weekend going on Mackinac Island, a trailer is available to throw a bag into in Harbor Springs to be picked up at the Arnold Ferry Line Dock. Take advantage of a slew of room rate deals just for riders at hotels like the Chippewa, Grand, and Mission Point. Once there, take in the sights or just rest up for another night of mayhem at bars like the Pink Pony, Horns and the Gatehouse. Loosen the legs Sunday morning with a ride around the island, or just put your sunglasses on and limp back to the docks, already thinking about next year.

MyNorth.com is the online home of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine, the flagship publication of MyNorth Media, a Traverse City, Michigan company dedicated to sharing stories and photos about vacations, restaurants, wineries, the outdoors and more from Traverse City to Sleeping Bear Dunes and up to Mackinac Island.